REGULAR MEETING

LEVY COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

JANUARY 17, 2012

 

 

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Levy County Commissioners was held on January 17, 2012 at 9:00 AM in the Levy County Board ofCountyCommissionersmeeting room, with the following Commissioners present:

 

Chairman Danny Stevens

Comm. Marsha Drew

Comm. Ryan Bell

Comm.ChadJohnson

Comm. Mike Joyner

            Also present were:

 

CountyAttorney– Anne Bast Brown

CountyCoordinator– Fred Moody

Assistant to theCountyCoordinator– Dick Tummond

 

 

Chairman Stevens called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM.  Osborn Barker gave the invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

 

EXPENDITURES

 

Comm. Bell made a motion to approve the following expenditures presented for payment.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

 

MINUTES

 

The minutes for the following meetings were presented to the Board for approval:

 

November 8, 2011

January 3, 2012 – TABLED –

 

Comm. Bell made a motion to approve the minutes for the Regular Meeting held November 8, 2011 as presented.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

 

 

WORKFORCE CONNECTION

 

Rusty Skinner, Chief Executive Officer

A.    Request approval of Resolution 2012-04.

 

Mr. Skinner requested Board approval of Resolution 2012-04 or a letter to be drafted and sent to the State level addressing concerns regarding HB7023.  This bill has been introduced in Legislature giving the Governor control over the local workforce system and removes responsibility, given to local elected officials under federal law, from local elected officials.

 

After discussion by Commissioners, it was agreed by consensus of the Board to send a letter to the State Legislative Officials.  Mr. Skinner will draft a letter for the Commissioners to review.  Comm. Stevens stated he would like each of the Commissioners to sign the letter.

 

B.     Request approval of the Worksite Agreement.

 

Mr. Skinner requested Board approval of the Worksite Agreement.  This agreement would allow departments of the county government to become worksites for individuals utilizing Workforce Connection to gain work training before entering into the workforce.

 

Comm. Johnson made a motion to approve the Worksite Agreement as presented.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

Barbara Locke spoke and let Mr. Skinner know the Health Department currently provides work training through Workforce Connection and brought up a point regarding background checks and fingerprinting charges not covered by Workforce Connection.  Mr. Skinner stated there are different levels of background checks and would check into why the Health Department is required to pay for theirs.

 

 

911 ADDRESSING

 

Mike West, 911 Coordinator

A.    Request signature of Chair for GeoComm Maintenance Contract.

 

Chris Sheppard requested on behalf of Mr. West Board approval and signature on the annual GeoComm Maintenance Contract which is in the amount of $13,100.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to approve the annual GeoComm Maintenance Contract as requested.  Second was made by Comm. Bell and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

NATURE COAST BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

 

David Pieklik, Executive Director

A.    Presenting Progress Report.

 

Mr. Pieklik presented a Progress Report to the Board of the Nature Coast Business Development Council and provided information for the Commissioners to review. He stated the new office will be in Chiefland at the old post office in with Workforce Connection and is expected to be open March 1^st.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Hans van Vuuren of Bronson spoke to the Board regarding the Levy County Recycling center and expressed his concern about the messiness of it.  He asked if it was possible to have countywide garbage pickup for a profit to the county.

Mr. Jerrels stated the trailers which are intended to be filled with recycle materials, often get household garbage dumped in them also.  This has to be sorted before the recycled materials can be sold.  These recycled materials are then sold, but the amount earned does not offset the cost.  This is not a moneymaker for the county.

Mr. van Vuuren asked if there was anything which could be done about dumping garbage along dirt roads in the County.

 

It was answered by the Commissioners along with Atty. Brown the Board could not stop people from dumping garbage, only issue citations from Code Enforcement if garbage is identified.  Nothing could be done by the Board about garbage someone dumps on their own property.

 

Barbara Locke spoke to the Board and announced there will be an “After Hours Medical Care” service provided by the Levy County Health Department the last Wednesday of each month at the Health Department from 4:30 P.M. to 7:15 P.M.  The services provided are:  physicals for work, sports and school, minor injuries (no x-ray), and routine health care.  There is no cost if eligible.

 

 

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

 

COUNTY COORDINATOR

 

Fred Moody

A.    Request the appointment of Connie Conley to serve as interim Director for Levy County Transit; with all duties, responsibilities and signature authority as Department Head.

 

Mr. Moody requested Board approval to appoint Connie Conley to serve as interim Director for Levy County Transit.

 

Comm. Bell made a motion to appoint Connie Conley as interim Director as requested.  Second was made by Comm. Johnson and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

B.     Notice of proposed closing of the Levy Farm Service Agency office.

 

Mr. Moody advised the Board of the proposed closing of the Levy Farm Service Agency office scheduled for February 3^rd.

 

All Commissioners agreed they would like to keep the Farm Service Agency office open forLevyCounty.

 

Comm. Johnson made a motion to lobby to keep the Farm Service office inLevyCountydue to the diversity of farming and agriculture business and to send a letter asking what can be done to keep the Farm Service office open here.  Second was made by Comm. Bell and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

C.     Notice of proposed closing of Levy Forestry Camp.

 

Mr. Moody advised the Board of the closing of Levy Forestry Camp and how this would affect Recycling as well as Parks.  These departments currently use prison work crews at Recycling and for clean-up at the Parks.  There is a possibility of using prison work crews fromLowell.

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

Karen Blackburn

A.    Follow up onColumbiaCounty’s letter; meeting rescheduled from January 31, 2012 to January 23, 2012.  Ms. Roberts advised they would prefer a county staff member ofCountyCommissioner.

 

Mrs. Blackburn informed the Board of the organizational meeting of the water supply protection working group previously scheduled for January 31, 2012 has been rescheduled to January 23, 2012 at 6:00 P.M.

 

Comm. Johnson stated he was still planning to attend as an individual and would take notes to bring back to Board at next meeting

Comm. Stevens requested Comm. Johnson attend as a representative for the Board and for another staff member to also attend.  Shenley Neely stated she would plan to be at this meeting also.

 

B.     Request from the Bronson FFA Chapter to sponsor an ad for the Suwannee River Livestock Show & Sale Official Program; Review attached ad, full page $100.

 

 

 

Mrs. Blackburn presented a request to the Board from the Bronson FFA Chapter for an ad in the Suwannee River Livestock Show & Sale Official Program.  The prices are as follows:

 

Full Page         $100

Half Page        $  50

Quarter Page   $  25

 

Comm. Bell made a motion to purchase a half-page ad for $50.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

C.     Requesting changes to the Levy County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board.

 

1.      Replace Primary Voting Member Elaine Carter with Melinda M. Jordan.

2.      Add Alternate Voting Member Andrew Singer.

3.      Replace Alternate Voting Member (School Board) Jeff Edison with Joseph Wain.

 

Mrs. Blackburn presented changes from the Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council to the Levy County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board for Board approval.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to approve the changes as stated to the Levy County Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board.  Second was made by Comm. Bell and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

LEVY COUNTY TRANSIT

 

Connie Conley, Operations Manager

A.    Follow up on January 3, 2012 tabled request for approval regarding the revised agreement for Steve Tocknell scope of services and payment of services.

 

Mrs. Conley requested Board approval of the request from January 3, 2012 of the revised agreement for Steve Tocknell scope of services and payment of services in the amount of $4,000.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to approve the revised agreement document for Steve Tocknell previously tabled at the January 3^rd meeting as requested.  Second was made by Comm. Bell and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

B.     Request approval of Resolutions to amend Resolutions:

 

1.      Section 5310 Capital Grant.

2.      Section 5311 Operating Grant.

3.      Section 5316 Operating Funding for Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) Grant.

4.      Section 5317 New Freedom Capital Grant.

5.      5317 New Freedom Operating Grant.

 

Mrs. Conley requested Board approval to amend the previously approved Resolutions as listed above.  This includes changing the Director name to Connie Conley.

 

Comm. Drew made a motion to approve Resolutions 2012-09 through 2012-13 amending previously approved Resolutions 2012-01, 2012-02, 2012-06, 2012-07 and 2012-08 as requested.  Second was made by Comm. Bell and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

PUBLIC SAFETY

 

David Knowles, Director

A.    Present the quarterly report to inform the Board, the citizens and visitors ofLevyCountyof significant events taking place within the department during the last quarter of 2011.

 

Mr. Knowles presented the 4^th quarter report of the Department of Public Safety to the Board.

 

 

 

 

SHIP

 

Dick Tummond, Assistant to theCountyCoordinator

A.    Request motion to approve Annual Reports submitted to Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

 

Mr. Tummond requested Board approval of the Annual Reports submitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.  This is the close out period for the year 2008/09.  During this period 14 families were assisted in the purchase of homes and 11 families were assisted in owner/occupied rehabilitation for a total of $391,872.70.

 

Comm. Bell made a motion to approve the Annual Reports submitted to the Florida Housing Finance Corporation as requested.  Second was made by Comm. Drew and the MOTION CARRIES.

 

 

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS

 

Comm. Johnson reminded everyone of the Levy County Education Foundation Gala on the 28^th of this month.

He also announced there will be a drawing for an $800 credit with Carnival Cruise Lines.  The tickets are $10 each.

Comm. Johnson stated there will be a North Florida Broadband meeting tomorrow which he will be attending.

 

Comm. Drew stated she had recently taken a course from the Department of Justice on Financial Grant Management.

 

Comm. Joyner announced MorristonBaptistChurchwill be holding its annual Beast Feast on January 28^th and invited everyone to attend.

 

The meeting recessed at 11:02

 

The meeting reconvened at 11:28

 

 

PRIORITIES/GOALS 2012 WORKSHOP

 

Comm. Stevens called the meeting back to order at 11:28 A.M..

Mr. Moody spoke briefly and suggested each commissioner speak briefly about the items listed.  The following is an overview of each Commissioners top priorities and goals for 2012.

 

Commissioner Joyner, District 1

A.    Special Events Permit

 

Comm. Joyner stated he would like to see any special event permit applicant responsible for providing law enforcement and emergency medical services for the event rather than taxpayers providing the service.

 

B.  One Cent Sales Tax

 

Comm. Joyner stated he would like to see a one cent sales tax inLevyCountyon all sales to help with county infrastructure.  He stated this will keep property owners from bearing the full load of taxes.

 

Commissioner Johnson, District 2

A.    Insurance Review

 

1.      Goal & Objective

2.      Time Line

 

B.     Technology Plan

 

1.      Goal & Objective

2.      Communications Infrastructure

3.      Phone System

4.      Inter/intranet

 

 

C.     Emergency Services Management

 

1.     LongTermCountyPlan

2.      Communications

 

D.    Local/Purchasing Plan

 

1.      Local Preference Policy

2.      Central Purchasing

 

E.     Asset Management

 

1.      Asset Utilization

2.      Inventory Control

 

F.      Ordinance Review

 

Annual Review of Ordinances

 

 

Commissioner Drew, District 3

A.    Complete the upgrading of the phone systems.

 

B.     Create an intranet for all county departments.

 

C.     Central Purchasing and try to buy American wherever possible.

 

D.    Establish new procedures for appointments to Boards and Commission seats.

 

E.     Require regular (monthly or quarterly) reporting from all department heads.

 

F.      Formalize the draft procedure for development review (written by Rob).

 

G.    Establish a criteria and calendar for employee evaluations.

 

H.    Biometric time clocks.

 

 

Commissioner Bell, District 4

A.    Insurance

 

B.     Special Events Permit

 

C.     Local Purchasing Policy

 

D.    Focus on $1 Million in Operational Budget Changes so we are not under the wire next budget year

 

E.     Improve on County Asset Inventory Tracking (i.e. GPS Tracking for Autos, Etc.)

 

F.      Work out better Payroll Clock in/Clock out System (we can discuss)

 

G.    Develop a Long Term Technology Plan (i.e. Automated Phone Systems, etc.)

 

H.    Work on Better Purchasing Program (Better Controls on Purchase Orders, Etc.)

 

I.       Improve Code Enforcement and Compliance on Scattered Debris.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commissioner Stevens, District 5

A.    Allocate funding for one (1) additional Med Unit.

 

 

B.     Provide funding for the 21 acre parcel owned by the County on 337 & 32 for a consultant to do site layout theCountyComplexincluding the Health Department.  The funding should include engineering, site layout, paving and other impervious surface permits, utilities, etc.  The Health Department will be constructed with funding from the Department of Health or other State Grants.

 

C.     Allocate funds for Inmate Visitation Up-grade or complete change-out of existing system.

 

D.    Grant Consulting/Management for 2012-2013

 

 

The Commissioners all expressed concerns of coming up short again this fiscal year.  It was agreed to work on ways to prevent this from happening again this year.  There was discussion of moving forward with projects costing the least or ones that will save more.

Comm. Drew stated some items like phone system or insurance may cost some now, but will save in the long run.

 

Mr. Moody states insurance should be dealt with first as Public Risk Management has been given notice we are looking for different insurance.

 

Other items commonly listed with more than one of the Commissioners were discussed as priority items and will be given the most attention in the coming months.

 

 

 

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION, THE MEETING ADJOURNED AT 1:01 P.M.

 

 

ATTEST:                                                                                             BOARD OFCOUNTYCOMMISSIONERS

LEVY COUNTY,FL

 

 

____________________________________                                    ____________________________________

Clerk of Court, Danny J. Shipp                                                          Chairman, Danny Stevens